Medan is about 30 minutes flight from Penang and when the city is mentioned, one could think of the layer cakes, the local Chinese could speak Hokkien too, volcanoes and Lake Toba. My family and I went to the city for a visit during the recent Chinese New Year and prior to that, I did a research on the city first.
So, when in Medan, travellers would usually opt to do the following: -
1) stay a night or two at Lake Toba
2) another one or two nights at Berastagi
3) a couple of days at Medan city
I was fortunate to have a friend, WP, who is from Medan and I knew him in Newcastle-upon-Tyne when I was on my working holiday visa. He was kind enough to guide me through his city (via whatsapp/email) and helped me enormously with the itinerary. The itinerary? I got it from a local tour agency in Medan, Narasindo Tours. I found Narasindo Tours through Google when I was searching for "Medan".
So, I sent an email to Narasindo Tours and James Jumakir replied me quite instantly the same day. The itinerary in which he proposed for a group of 8 adults are as follows: -
"4 days Medan - Lake Toba Tour
6th Feb Medan - Samosir island / 4 hrs drive + 1 hr ferry
Arrive at the Kuala Namu International airport with flight at 7.15 We will fetch you and directly depart to lake Toba / Samosir island via plantation route and a historical city of Pematang Siantar. In the afternoon you arrive in Parapat harbor from where you cross the lake to Samosir island by ferry. Upon arrival on the island, you will directly check in to hotel for overnight stay. In the evening you may take a nice walk to the local café or shop neaby hotel. 2 overnight stay in hotel Silintong on Samosir island. Lunch and dinner are included
7th Feb Samosir island - Brastagi / 3,5 hrs drive + 1 hr ferry
Today you will make excursions to Tomok village to see the old tomb of King’s Sidabutar and Ambarita village to see the stone chairs, tables and court yard of Siallagan’s clan. After that you cross the lake by boat to Parapat from where you drive to Brastagi, a mountain resort with its refreshing weather and magnificent mountain scenery which has an abundance of flowers, vegetables and fruits (most famous of which is the passion fruit). On the way stop will be made at Sipiso-piso waterfall and Long house of Simalungun Bataks. At noon you arrive in Brastagi visiting fruits market and Gundaling hill where you can views two active volcanoes, Sibayak and Sinabung. Overnight stay in hotel Sinabung or Danau Toba Cottages or Horison in Brastagi. Lunch and dinner are included
8th Feb Brastagi - Medan city tour / 1,5 - 2 hrs drive
In the morning is free program for you in Brastagi. After that you depart to Medan through the winding route and mountain villages. Arrive in Medan there is a city tour / shopping in Medan visiting Sultan Maimoon Palace, Grand Mosque. Overnight stay in hotel Garuda Plaza or Grand Sakura or Grand Antares or similar in Medan. Lunch and dinner are included
9th Feb Medan - transfer airport / 1 - 1,5 hrs drive
In the morning is free program. At noon you check out from hotel for city and shopping tour Batik house , Pusat handbroidery / sulam / telekung and Medan Mall. After that you will be trabsferred to the airport of Medan for catch your flight at 6.20pm End of your trip with us. NO MEALS
Price 8 persons is RM 495.00 per person
Included - Hotels as mentioned above + breakfast - AC transport as mentioned in the program + fuel - Driver cum guide - Entrance & parking fees as mentioned in the program - Ferry Parapat – Samosir vice versa - Meals: 3 x lunches + 3 x dinners - Highseason surcharge during Chinesse New Year Period
Excluded - Flight tickets & airport tax - Personal insurance - Personal expenses: donations, laundry, drinks, souvenirs etc. - Tips (RM7.00 / pax / day depends on clients satisfaction) - Any optional program"
So, for the price per person and with all meals included sounded like a good deal, eh? We agreed with the quotation and signed up! Upon confirmation, 30% deposit is to be paid to their Maybank account maintained in Penang. It is registered under the tour agency's boss personal name. The balance is to be paid in Medan. We paid to the driver/guide when we reached Medan city and the driver's tip only after he has dropped us off at the airport. The tour agency suggested RM7.00 per person so that will be a lot right? We paid RM200.00 in total for the 4 days albeit we are 8 in a group. We thought that was as much as the driver deserves.
I also insisted to drop by Asli in Medan to get the peanut candies/snacks as recommended by my friend and the driver obliged. So, the driver/guide Sam, was not bad actually. However, my opinions of the services of this tour agency is purely mine and my family's views and it may differs to others. If you expect too much, the higher the disappointment you have invited unto yourself. So, we didn't expect much noting it was only RM495.00 per person. But, we did enjoy the whole trip. My friends who engaged them in March, didn't enjoy it and complained how much time was wasted on travelling. They were a group of early 30s and late 20s, can't blame them for being restless though.
The following is my reply to a fellow traveller also travelling in a big group (I shall named the person as J): -
J's email to me
6th Feb Medan - Samosir island / 4 hrs drive + 1 hr ferry
Arrive at the Kuala Namu International airport with flight at 7.15 We will fetch you and directly depart to lake Toba / Samosir island via plantation route and a historical city of Pematang Siantar. In the afternoon you arrive in Parapat harbor from where you cross the lake to Samosir island by ferry. Upon arrival on the island, you will directly check in to hotel for overnight stay. In the evening you may take a nice walk to the local café or shop neaby hotel. 2 overnight stay in hotel Silintong on Samosir island. Lunch and dinner are included
7th Feb Samosir island - Brastagi / 3,5 hrs drive + 1 hr ferry
Today you will make excursions to Tomok village to see the old tomb of King’s Sidabutar and Ambarita village to see the stone chairs, tables and court yard of Siallagan’s clan. After that you cross the lake by boat to Parapat from where you drive to Brastagi, a mountain resort with its refreshing weather and magnificent mountain scenery which has an abundance of flowers, vegetables and fruits (most famous of which is the passion fruit). On the way stop will be made at Sipiso-piso waterfall and Long house of Simalungun Bataks. At noon you arrive in Brastagi visiting fruits market and Gundaling hill where you can views two active volcanoes, Sibayak and Sinabung. Overnight stay in hotel Sinabung or Danau Toba Cottages or Horison in Brastagi. Lunch and dinner are included
8th Feb Brastagi - Medan city tour / 1,5 - 2 hrs drive
In the morning is free program for you in Brastagi. After that you depart to Medan through the winding route and mountain villages. Arrive in Medan there is a city tour / shopping in Medan visiting Sultan Maimoon Palace, Grand Mosque. Overnight stay in hotel Garuda Plaza or Grand Sakura or Grand Antares or similar in Medan. Lunch and dinner are included
9th Feb Medan - transfer airport / 1 - 1,5 hrs drive
In the morning is free program. At noon you check out from hotel for city and shopping tour Batik house , Pusat handbroidery / sulam / telekung and Medan Mall. After that you will be trabsferred to the airport of Medan for catch your flight at 6.20pm End of your trip with us. NO MEALS
Price 8 persons is RM 495.00 per person
Included - Hotels as mentioned above + breakfast - AC transport as mentioned in the program + fuel - Driver cum guide - Entrance & parking fees as mentioned in the program - Ferry Parapat – Samosir vice versa - Meals: 3 x lunches + 3 x dinners - Highseason surcharge during Chinesse New Year Period
Excluded - Flight tickets & airport tax - Personal insurance - Personal expenses: donations, laundry, drinks, souvenirs etc. - Tips (RM7.00 / pax / day depends on clients satisfaction) - Any optional program"
So, for the price per person and with all meals included sounded like a good deal, eh? We agreed with the quotation and signed up! Upon confirmation, 30% deposit is to be paid to their Maybank account maintained in Penang. It is registered under the tour agency's boss personal name. The balance is to be paid in Medan. We paid to the driver/guide when we reached Medan city and the driver's tip only after he has dropped us off at the airport. The tour agency suggested RM7.00 per person so that will be a lot right? We paid RM200.00 in total for the 4 days albeit we are 8 in a group. We thought that was as much as the driver deserves.
I also insisted to drop by Asli in Medan to get the peanut candies/snacks as recommended by my friend and the driver obliged. So, the driver/guide Sam, was not bad actually. However, my opinions of the services of this tour agency is purely mine and my family's views and it may differs to others. If you expect too much, the higher the disappointment you have invited unto yourself. So, we didn't expect much noting it was only RM495.00 per person. But, we did enjoy the whole trip. My friends who engaged them in March, didn't enjoy it and complained how much time was wasted on travelling. They were a group of early 30s and late 20s, can't blame them for being restless though.
The following is my reply to a fellow traveller also travelling in a big group (I shall named the person as J): -
J's email to me
Hi Alyssa,
I am taking the liberty of writing to you regarding your glowing testimonial in Narasindo Tours website.
We are a group of 8 from Penang planning a 5D/4N Berastagi/LakeToba/Medan tour with James Jumakir. However, we also read 2 bad reviews about them which is making us a bit apprehensive about using their services. So we would appreciate your feedback and if we should go ahead and book our tour with them.
Thank you for your input.
Best Regards,
J
My reply to J
Hi J,
I only found out about the bad reviews on tripadvisor just days before my trip and hence, it made me hesitated. I thought whether I did the right choice or not in signing up for their services.
It wasn't as bad at all unlike what that reviewer said. We got a healthy driver and a friendly one. His name is Sam and he was a replacement driver to the supposed Habib. James didn't inform me of the change in driver. But, Sam served us well as a driver and a tour guide. He is honest generally but like all tour agencies, they often bring you to places in which they have commissioned. So, don't be surprised to see Narasindo Tours stickers on almost all the places you go.
Food are all good - only buffet breakfast in Berastagi and in Medan city. Our van was a new Isuzu 11 seaters. Get all your souvenirs from Tomok Village and Berastagi. In Medan, it is limited and expensive.
The bit on the bed bugs at Toledo Inn is true. It is an old place. So, bring long sleeves clothes and pants for sleeping. Otherwise, that Inn is worth staying.
Bring travel adapter too as the two pins in Indonesia are unlike those in Hatyai as it is deep in and rounded.
Tipping is not compulsory but I found it a courtesy to tip the Narasindo driver. It was suggested RM7 per package per day but in the end, we paid only RM25 per person for the 4 days. It all depends on what you think of his services. If you think he is not worth that much, pay him less. Don't have to tip the hotel staff who helped you with the bags. My friend from Medan told me that 50K rupiah is too generous even though it is only like 10 ringgit here.
I managed to speak with James over the phone upon our arrival and he is a pleasant guy like how he seems from the email replies. You only pay the balance of your tour when you are in Medan. Tip the driver only after he drop you off at the airport.
That's my personal opinion from engaging Narasindo Tours. Next time if I do engage them again it would just be for Berastagi and Medan as the travelling time to Samosir Island is too much. Haha.. Hope you will enjoy your trip and get Sam as your driver.
Kind regards, Alyssa
******
For more information, their contacts are below.NARASINDO TOURS
Jl. Juanda No. 55 E – Medan, North Sumatra
+62 61 4159939 (tel)
+62 61 4159917 (fax)
+62 853 7072 0018 (mobile)
Info@narasindotours.com
www.narasindotours.com
Skype: narasindo
No comments:
Post a Comment